Girlbooker's Tea and Toast

I’ve been intrigued by the possibilities of connection between food and mental health for a number of years now. A few years ago, I went through a really tough time, and one of the things that acted as a life buoy for me was cooking. I had never been an especially engaged or talented cook, but through this time I slowly developed familiarity with ingredients and techniques, and came to rely on the soothing, calming process of kitchen creation so much that I now get sad and moody if I go more than a few days without cooking.  I’ve spent some time musing over what exactly it is that works such magic on me, and I’m not 100% sure, but I do know that I’m not alone in seeking solace in food, and in particular, food creation. I have been delighted to discover some books in the last couple of years that have shared these ideas with me. The Happy Kitchen by Rachel Kelly is most explicit about this topic. It’s been written by a writer who has struggled with depression, and a nutritioni...

Sometimes we need reminders from the world that we are on the right path.  Lately, I've been trying to work out why I am so unadventurous creatively speaking at the moment, when I actually have loads of spare time. I have also been trying to work out how to get a job. I've been job hunting for quite a few weeks now, several more than I ever really expected to be.  I started the 'funemployment' journey with an absolutely gigantic, unwieldy list of life maintenance tasks and proposed actives to check off in order to keep myself from going insane while I looked for a new job. I started quite well but my interest in The List soon waned, and I don't think I have even glanced at it for about a month now. I have to admit, I've started to wallow. Trying to hone your message to potential employers and recruiters is exhausting. What exactly do I want to do with my life?  (Now say that again but in bullet points). How can I package up my achievements...

I once read, somewhere or other, that eating an apple will do a better job of waking you up than a cup of coffee. So why don't we have any apple shops, with exposed brick walls, industrial-hipster lighting, and queues of apple-deficient people snaking out the door waiting for their fix each morning? Well, for whatever reason(s), we are stuck with the cafe. But it just so happens that there are plenty of benefits to grabbing a quick coffee in the morning, completely aside from whether or not the beverage in question can make you feel more awake and alert. Here are my top 5: 1. Getting Some Fresh Air Stepping out of the office for a quick coffee run is a very good thing. Being outside and exposed to direct sunlight can help lift your mood. There are proven links between lack of sun exposure and anxiety and depression. The sun will also give you a (probably much needed) dose of vitamin D, which is imperative for bone strength. There are apparently a whole heap of other amazing ...